JOHN GEORGE KEIL, C.M

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JOHN GEORGE KEIL, C.M. 1917 - 2005 On April 19, 2005, in his 88th year, John George Keil, C.M., passed away in Pickering, ON. Born in Winnipeg, MB, on November 30, 1917, George relocated to Pickering in 1988. George began providing worldwide immigration and poverty relief with the Canada Colonization Association in 1938. From 1943 to 1946 he served with the R.C.A.F., for which he received the C.V.S.M. and Clasp. In 1946 he began working with Canadian Lutheran World Relief. Named Executive Director in 1960, George eventually retired in 1988 after 42 years of service. In 1988 he was asked to join the Immigration and Refugee Board with the Federal Government in Toronto, taking his second retirement in 1992. George was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany in 1983; named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1988, and received the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, all for his outstanding global humanitarian achievements. George is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Elise Barbara Keil (nee Schmidt) and his son Richard Keil, both of Pickering; by his son Curtis (Beverly), daughter-in-law Dianne and grandson Keane, all of Long Beach, California; by his daughter Marylyn Keil Stovel, son-in-law Gordon Stovel, and granddaughters Gillian Stovel Rivers (Paul) and Meaghan Stovel McKnight (Brent), of Mississauga, Burlington and Toronto, respectively. A member of Peace Lutheran Church in Pickering, George was a loving, caring and thoughtful gentleman, in all aspects of his life, both professional and personal. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to have known him. Services celebrating the life of John George Keil will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, 928 Liverpool Rd., Pickering, ON, on Saturday May 7 at 2:00 p.m. Committal will be held privately at Glendale Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations should be made to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, 1080 Kingsbury Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2P 1W5. Condolences may be directed by mail to McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Rd., Ajax, ON L1T 2Z7, Attention: Elise B. Keil.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 30, 2005